Fig. 3

Graphical summary of immunomodulation and neuroprotective effects of MSCs in MS. MSC-derived secretome justifies the unbalanced immune response through secretion of different cytokines and growth factors. These products inhibit the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of Th1 and Th17 to the CNS and increase the Th0 differentiation to Treg instead. MSC secretome also comprises an array of neurotrophic factors which induce endogenous neurogenesis; this compensates lost neurons. MMP9: matrix metalloproteinases9, TIMP: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase, IL: interleukin, IFN-γ: interferon-gamma, PGE2: prostaglandin E2, IDO: indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. HGF: hepatocyte growth factor, BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor, GDNF: glial cell-derived neurotrophic, BFGF: basic fibroblast growth factor, IGF: insulin-like growth factors, VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor, KYN: kynurenine, FOXP3: forehead box P3, STAT5: signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, C-met: hepatocyte growth factor receptor, BBB: blood–brain barrier. The images depicted in the figure are designed by authors